Rancilio Silvia Maintenance

Rancilio Silvia maintenance involves regular descaling, backflushing and keeping the brew group clean. Gail shows us the last in this -- brew group maintenance.

For tips on backflushing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U6J2JJH9gA
For tips on descaling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxpOBZyK9MA

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• rancilio silvia
• espresso machine
• maintenance

[ValiantVale]

Hi, Thanks for all your videos. You two crack me up. I have a tip. When removing the brew head gasket, take a small screw (boo chikka whow whow!) and screw it into the gasket, leave enough of the screw sticking out of the gasket to allow you to pull down on it with a pair of pliers. The gasket will pop out; it's easier and safer than stabbing it with a screwdriver. Regards from the UK.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@ValiantVale Thanks for the tip! :D - Kat

[sessasmith1]

Thanks! I will try all that. One last question...what is a typical cost for a commercially performed descale?

Thanks,

Sarah

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@sessasmith1 We perform this as part of a tune up, which also includes gasket/o-ring replacement and thorough cleaning of the brew head, etc. For us it's a $95 base charge and then, if anything is wrong with the machine after we open it up, we will provide additional estimates at that time for folks if needed. - Kat

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@klarinetta Yes, definitely; the manual is horrible, IMHO, and accounts for all the burned out boilers that we get -- and that aren't covered under warranty (much to people's frustration). This is actually what inspired us making videos -- explaining to people about steaming, temp surfing, then brewing in order to ensure a constantly full boiler. The manual is very poor in terms of content and even being updated regularly. - Kat

[klarinetta]

@klarinetta 2/2 I asked the person who sold this machine to me about boiler refilling and how often I have to do that. I saidn "Isn't like pushing the brew button and open the steam wand until water comes out ?" He said "No you only have to push the water button to refill the boiler." I wonder if that is correct ?

I'm sure you stress this out to your customers but I just wanted to point out that the importance of regularly doing this operation is not stressed out in the manual.

[klarinetta]

1/2 I have one thing to point out. I bought this machine two days ago and I got and instruction both in English and Icelandic on what to do before using the machine. Ok from all my searching on the net and watching vides I knew this was boiler refilling operation but on both papers they didn't tell us that this operation is called boiler refilling. In the manual in English they also talk about boiler refilling but not about the importance of that.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@sessasmith1 I would do a REALLY intensive descale first, as dripping and lack of pressure/water are hallmarks of scale build up. If it's never been done before, then have it commercially performed (where they can take the boiler apart) may be the way to go. Also, try taking apart the brew head again (we just posted a video of how to do this) and clean the screens really well -- if she never backflushed, then these are probably really coated. - Kat

[sessasmith1]

Hi Kat,

Thanks for your reply. She doesn't remember doing any flushing or anything except she replaces the portafilter rubber part and it started acting up after that. It drips water with the portafilter on and without it on. I haven't tried it without coffee.

Any help would be great...I'm tempted to just try and sell it as is, if it can't be a somewhat easy/inexpensive fix.

Thanks again for all your help,

Sarah

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@sessasmith1 Does it drip very little water without the portafilter in? What about when the portafilter is in without coffee? What sort of maintenance has she performed? Check on what she has done because you might be able to resolve it that way. Feel free to msg me here if you need tips. - Kat